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Goa elderly sisters found dead at home, leave cash for last rites: Police

It is unclear when and how the two elderly women died. Police said only an autopsy would indicate the cause of death.

Published on: Sep 21, 2026, 20:45:48 IST
By , PANAJI
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Two elderly sisters were found dead at their residence in South Goa’s Canacona area in a suspected case of suicide, police said.

Deputy superintendent of police Canacona Division Nilesh Rane, said a handwritten note with some money was found in the house. The note said the money was to take care of their last rites. (Unsplash)
Deputy superintendent of police Canacona Division Nilesh Rane, said a handwritten note with some money was found in the house. The note said the money was to take care of their last rites. (Unsplash)

The women, aged 70 and 73, lived together in the coastal district of Canacona. Neighbours told investigators that the sisters, who were unmarried and lived alone in the house, had recently said they had no desire to keep living.

Their elder brother had visited the two earlier this month. Neighbours initially called him about the foul smell from the house; he called the police.

Deputy superintendent of police Canacona Division Nilesh Rane, said a handwritten note with some money was found in the house. The note said the money was to take care of their last rites.

It is unclear when and how the two women died. Police said only an autopsy would indicate the cause of death.

Rane said both bodies were found in an advanced stage of decomposition.

“During the initial scene investigation, police confirmed that nothing inside the house appeared disturbed, suggesting no immediate signs of forced entry or ransacking,” he added.

“The bodies of both deceased women have been shifted to and preserved at the South Goa District Hospital Morgue in Margao for required medico-legal procedures and post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death,” he added.

  • Gerard de Souza
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Gerard de Souza

    Gerard de Souza is a Special Correspondent based in Goa and has been reporting on and about issues concerning the state and the wider western coast of India for over 18 years. His wide range of stories covers politics, crime, environment and tourism-related concerns emerging from India’s smallest state. Born and brought up in Goa, he has a deep understanding of the former Portuguese enclave’s evolution from a laidback collection of idyllic villages that first drew flower power generation of counter culture enthusiasts to its shores to one that has become synonymous in Indian popular culture with an aspirational holiday, seeing the best (and worst) that holidayers have to offer. He also keenly follows criminal trials. Most notably, he covered the trial surrounding the killing of Scarlett Keeling, a British teenager found dead on Anjuna beach, and that of Danielle McLaughlin similarly killed in south Goa, among others. He authored the book ‘Crimes of Passion: When Desire Turns Deadly,’ chronicling cases of romance turning to rage and murder. A graduate of Goa University, he learnt the trade on the job and has experience on both the reporting and editorial sides of the profession. When not sniffing around for a worthy headline, he likes to spend time outdoors to help ensure his heart is always in the right place.Read More

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